“We're sympathetic, but once you step on the field, football's football.”

Michael Strahan

Michael Strahan Biography

Talk Show Host, Football Player, Athlete(1971–)

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Michael Strahan is a former defensive end for the New York Giants, and co-host of the morning television program "Live! With Kelly and Michael."

Synopsis

Retired NFL defensive lineman Michael Anthony Strahan was born in Houston, Texas, in 1971. After playing for Texas Southern University, Strahan was selected by the New York Giants in the 1993 NFL draft. Over the course of his long career, Strahan became one of the league's all-time QB sack leaders. Following his retirement in 2008, Strahan eased into a new career in television. In September 2012, Strahan became the new co-host of the morning television program Live! With Kelly and Michael.

Early Years

Michael Anthony Strahan was born on November 21, 1971, in Houston, Texas. The youngest of six children, Strahan spent a good portion of his childhood in Mannheim, Germany, where his father, Gene, an Army major, settled the family when Strahan was 9 years old.

A gifted athlete with a tall frame, Strahan returned to Texas for his senior year of high school. Although he had played organized football in Germany, Strahan lacked the experience of the other players he competed against as a member of the Westbury High School team. Still, he proved to be gifted enough in the sport to earn a scholarship to play at Texas Southern University in Houston.

As a college player, Strahan continued to make incredible strides. He dominated the line of scrimmage, barreling through offensive lines and terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.

By his senior year, Strahan's play had caught the attention of NFL scouts. In the spring of 1993, the talented defensive player was selected 40th overall in the NFL draft, by the New York Giants.

Pro Career

As he had in high school and college, Strahan, who stands 6'5", was quick to adapt to the competition and his new football environment. During his second year in the league, he became a full-time starter for the Giants. He registered his first double-digit quarterback sack season in 1997, with 14, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl for his efforts.

Over the next decade, Strahan proved to be a dominating defensive force for the Giants. Following a 15-sack campaign in 1998, he set an NFL single-season record with 22.5 sacks in 2001. Strahan would eventually compile a total of 141.5 quarterback sacks, ranking fifth in NFL history at the time of his final game.

Strahan's career ended on a high note. After mulling retirement, the star veteran returned to the Giants for the 2007 season. That year, along with quarterback Eli Manning, Strahan led the club to its first Super Bowl victory in nearly two decades, with an upset win over Tom Brady and the undefeated New England Patriots in the championship game.

Soon after the big victory, Strahan announced his retirement from football. "I just hope people can say he was a great defensive end, he helped us win, he's a motivator, he's a team leader," Strahan told reporters. "And you're going to miss me when I leave."

Life After Football

Even before he'd left the game of football, it was generally believed that Strahan had a future in television. Following his retirement, Strahan was hired as a football analyst with FOX Sports. He's also done several commercials for the Subway sandwich chain.

In the fall of 2009, Strahan starred in the short-lived FOX sitcom Brothers. Then in September 2012, Strahan was named the new co-host of Live! With Kelly. Filling the spot formerly held by longtime host Regis Philbin, he teamed up with Kelly Ripa on the syndicated show, which was renamed Live! With Kelly and Michael.

Strahan was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in early 2014. In April of the same year, he joined Good Morning America as a part-time correspondent. In April 2016, ABC announced that Strahan was leaving Live! With Kelly and Michael to join Good Morning America on a full-time basis.

Strahan was married twice and is the father of four children. In 2009, he became engaged to Nicole Murphy, former wife of actor and comedian Eddie Murphy. The couple split in 2014.

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